Rough hearing so far for Christie Supreme Court nominee

Majority Democrats on the state Senate Judiciary Committee are grilling Gov. Chris Christie’s Supreme Court nominee on his plans to recuse from same-sex marriage decisions if he’s seated on the state’s high court.

Chatham Mayor Bruce Harris, an open gay, has only had limited success shifting topics during the required hearing to discussion on his background as a finance attorney who handles large transactional cases.

Gay community leaders have expressed only lukewarm support for Harris because of the recusal issue. Harris is claiming it’s proper because he has advocated in the past for same-sex marriage.

Harris testified his decision to recuse on same-sex marriage was made “after much thought’’ and from his concern with “how the public would view the court.”

Harris needs at least two Democrats on the 13-member panel to vote across party lines in order to capture committee approval. If approved he would be the court’s first openly gay Supreme Court associate justice.

Christie’s previous nominee did not survive the process. Phillip Kwon was voted down earlier this year after a six-hour hearing, becoming the first Supreme Court nominee in modern history to fail to gain confirmation.

Republicans helped their cause with Harris by having Sen. Jennifer Beck, R-Monmouth, replace Sen. Michael Doherty, R-Warren, on the panel. The substitute senator is more likely than Doherty to cast a vote in favor of Harris, party officials said.

There’s a segment of conservatives not thrilled with Christie’s pick of Harris, likely to be underscored when Americans for Prosperty state leader Steve Lonegan testifies later.